Ahead of the Ram Temple inauguration slated in January, 2024, the VHP has been in full throttle organising yatras, village-to-village campaigns, and programmes to gather and mobilise sentiments. At many of these rallies however, speakers have been witnessed and caught on camera giving incendiary hate speeches against minorities. Earlier this year, VHP’s spokesperson, Vinod Bansal, had stated to the media in September, “We will awaken people against the menace of conversion and love jihad through these tours. We are also raising groups of dharma yoddhas (religious warriors) who will keep an eye on anti-religious activities, prevent conversion and organise ghar wapsi (return to the fold) programmes. A comprehensive plan has been devised which will be carried out through the length and breadth of the country.”
However, two days following the initial announcements and widespread alarm voiced by independent media, the VHP had stated that they would not be involving Dharma Yodhas in the event. The VHP has an aggressive track record that lists out intimidation, hate speeches, anti-minority rhetoric at its programmes.
VHP’s Shaurya Jagran Yatra in Jammu
Thus, in a bid to reach out to marginalised sections within the Indian society, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) is also actively involved in a range of campaigns that are targeted at the scheduled tribes and castes. Devji Bhai Rawat, the national secretary of the VHP, recently disclosed that committees are to be established in every village to oversee various programs, including skill development training, aimed at uplifting Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe people residing in slums and forests in Jammu, according to Deccan Herald.
Addressing reporters following a meeting with organisation office bearers to finalise the programme, Rawat talked about holding programmes on skill development training for uneducated youth, enabling them to secure livelihoods for their families. “The skill development training is being conducted for uneducated youngsters to enable them to earn a living for their families,” Rawat stated. Rawat also went on to talk about VHP’s supposed efforts to eradicate untouchability among Hindus, asserting that the organisation plans to commemorate the birthdays of social reformers, including Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Sant Ravidas, Maharishi Valmiki, Sant Kabir, and Ramanujacharya, among others, with ]marginalised sections of society. The RSS and its offshoots are often criticised for appropriating marginalised people’s icons to further encourage these groups to buy their propaganda and be supporters. In a piece by SabrangIndia, there is an in depth analysis of how the very history and claims of indigeneity are being challenged, changed and disrupted by the RSS’ groups that operate schools and NGOs in tribal-populated areas.
This story was originally published in sabrangindia.in. Read the full story here .
